Side-by-side crime statistics from official UK Police data.
CM23 · Hertfordshire
228
crimes in March 2026
Above national average
CM17 · Essex
87
crimes in March 2026
Below national average
Harlow has less crime — 87 vs 228 incidents in March 2026.
Bishops Stortford recorded substantially more crime than Harlow in March 2026 — 228 incidents compared to 87, a 2.6x difference. The crime profiles diverge meaningfully: Bishops Stortford sees higher rates of Shoplifting (33), while Harlow has more Drugs (12). Bishops Stortford sits above the national average for recorded crime while Harlow is below — a significant gap for anyone weighing up the two.
Full reports cover 24 months of trends, ward breakdowns, outcome rates, and a detailed safety score — from £4.99.
Based on March 2026 Police data, Harlow recorded fewer crimes than Bishops Stortford — 87 vs 228 incidents. That is 62% fewer crimes. Harlow is also below the national average for crime.
The main difference lies in crime type. In March 2026, Bishops Stortford saw higher rates of Shoplifting while Harlow had more Drugs. Overall, Harlow recorded fewer total crimes (87 vs 228).